Linear Kelvin Wave Predictions in the $z\to 0$ Limit
Abstract
Linear wave theory captures the essential physics of free-surface flows at a fraction of the computational cost of nonlinear and viscous methods, making it attractive for design, real-time control, and surrogate modeling applications. However, the Kelvin Green's function for a translating point-source generates unbounded wave energy in the limit, causing both numerical difficulties and physical inconsistencies. This paper develops a modified kernel for flat-ship theory incorporating an elliptic spanwise line integration that naturally resolves this ill-posedness, yielding finite wave energy over the entire free surface. We then present a fast evaluator for both point and line kernels using contour deformation adapted to the non-analytic Kelvin phase, achieving - speedup over direct quadrature while preserving the wake asymptotics. Predictions on the most challenging limit demonstrate physically consistent wave patterns and wave resistance trends. An open-source Julia implementation is provided.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.14945,
title = {Linear Kelvin Wave Predictions in the $z\to 0$ Limit},
author = {Gabriel D Weymouth},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.14945},
year = {2026}
}